Comrades secured a victory over table-toppers Newry in a closely fought encounter at Dixon Park.

The visitors started the better of the sides and were on top for most of the first half as Comrades struggled to put anything together. However, Newry were largely kept at bay by the home defence and struggled to create chances despite having most of the possession.

However, on 21 minutes Comrades almost gifted their opponents the lead when Jack Ferguson scuffed a clearance straight to Daniel Hughes, but the ‘keeper managed to redeem himself, closing down the Newry striker in the box to make it hard for him to shoot and then blocking his eventual effort.

The play was scrappy from both sides for much of the first half, but as it reached it final minutes Comrades suddenly came to life, looking dangerous for the first time in the game.

In the 42^nd minute, after a good run, Adam Gray laid the ball to Gary Donnelly who made space for a shot from twenty-five yards which wasn’t far off target. Then three minutes later Donnelly went on a run across the pitch before sending in a great cross from the left side of the box. He picked out Tom Mathieson at the far post, but he couldn’t direct his header on target, sending the ball across the goal but wide of the post from five yards out.

Two minutes into first half injury-time the hosts had a half-chance when a long clearance forward from Jack Ferguson was misjudged by the Newry defence and Ciarán Dobbin got to the ball at the edge of the box just before the ‘keeper. However, he couldn’t direct his first-time lobbed effort on target and it drifted over the bar.

The second half began with Comrades on the front-foot. Inside the first minute an excellent move involving Curtis Woods and Ciarán Dobbin ended with Dobbin cutting the ball back from the by-line to Tom Mathieson who then scuffed an effort from just inside the box which Maguire saved easily.

In the 52^nd minute the home side got the reward for their enterprising start to the second half when they took the lead. It all started with Joe Tully beautifully controlling a high ball. He then set Tom Mathieson free to run to the edge of the box and send in a teasing ball which Gary Donnelly made contact with, sending it goalward from six yards. Despite the ‘keeper’s effort to claw the ball away it crossed the line, quickly confirmed by the referee’s assistant.

Comrades continued to attack and on 58 minutes they came close when a long throw into the box was only cleared to Curtis Woods steaming in to get to the ball first, but his fizzing drive went just over the bar from eighteen yards.

The hosts were having the bulk of the attacking play, but they almost gifted an equaliser to their opponents on 59 minutes, when a shanked clearance from the otherwise excellent Adam McCart landed at the feet of Daniel Hughes who looked certain to score, but he was denied from seven yards by a superb Jack Ferguson save.

In the 63^rd minute the hosts had a chance to add to their lead when the ball was played through to Tom Mathieson who had got behind the visitors’ defence, but Maguire was alert to come out and block his effort from eight yards.

Comrades had a couple of strikes on target as the clocked ticked down. First it was Adam Gray who tested the ‘keeper on 78 minutes with an effort from the edge of the box which was comfortably saved. Then, seven minutes later, space opened up for Ciarán Dobbin with the Newry defence stretched, but his resulting effort from twenty-five yards was hit too close to the ‘keeper.

The home side’s lead remained slim, and it was threatened in the 86^th minute when Lawless made a great run down the middle of the field before shooting just wide from twenty yards.

A minute later at the other end the industrious Joe Tully hit a great strike from thirty yards which forced a flying save from Maguire.

The hosts were able to see out the final minutes of the game comfortably to seal an important win.